Jacques Villeneuve Critiques Oscar Piastri After Norris Crash in F1

In the aftermath of the Canadian Grand Prix on June 17, 2025, former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve has reignited his controversial relationship with Australian drivers by labeling Oscar Piastri's actions during a notable crash with Lando Norris as 'nasty'. The incident, which occurred in the closing laps of the race, has sparked discussions about driver responsibility and team dynamics within McLaren.

Lando Norris, who accepted the blame for the collision, crashed into the back of Piastri while attempting to secure a podium position. This unfortunate event led to Norris's retirement from the race, finishing behind Piastri, who managed to secure fourth place and increase his lead in the drivers' standings over Norris by 22 points.

Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 F1 world champion, has a history of outspoken remarks about Australian drivers, notably Daniel Ricciardo in the past. His comments following the Norris-Piastri incident have once again drawn attention. Villeneuve stated, 'The clash between the two McLaren drivers, it was easy to point the finger at Norris. He didn’t realize that Piastri was moving towards the left.' This perspective contradicts the consensus among those directly involved, including Norris, who publicly apologized for his misjudgment.

According to McLaren's CEO Zak Brown, Norris's admission of fault demonstrates a commendable quality, while team principal Andrea Stella emphasized that such a misjudgment 'should not have happened.' Villeneuve's remarks, however, have led to accusations of bias against Australian drivers, with many fans suggesting he harbors resentment towards them. This assertion is not without context, as Villeneuve has previously criticized Ricciardo and Jack Doohan, further fueling the narrative.

Esteemed F1 commentator Martin Brundle supported the view that Norris was at fault, praising Piastri's defensive tactics during the incident. 'Oscar did well to see the first move coming,' Brundle remarked, 'Lando probably thought he got him because Oscar was at an acute angle into the final chicane.' This commentary highlights the differing opinions on the incident, which underscore the competitive nature of Formula One racing.

The FIA stewards assigned a five-second penalty to Norris, a decision that Villeneuve disagreed with, suggesting that the internal discussions at McLaren regarding this incident could have broader implications for team cohesion and competitive strategies moving forward.

Villeneuve also criticized the decision to end the race under a Safety Car, arguing that a red flag should have been issued to allow for an exciting finish, stating, 'What could have been, should have been an exciting race, turned into a not-so-exciting race.' This sentiment reflects ongoing debates within motorsport regarding race regulations and the spirit of competition.

As McLaren navigates this internal rivalry between Piastri and Norris, team principal Stella believes that such challenges could ultimately strengthen the team's performance. He remarked, 'This will only make us stronger in terms of our internal competition and in terms of the way we go racing.' With 14 races remaining in the season, the dynamics between these two drivers will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as they vie for championship honors amid the backdrop of Villeneuve's critical narrative.